From Sara:
Dad and the Media
Well, my immediate association with the word “media” and Dad is Dad’s collection of books on the mass media. I think I tried to do a report on his PhD topic (mass media) using his books when I was in 7th grade. Bit off a bit more than I could chew.
But way before that, Dad helped me really fall in love with books. Dad read Nancy Drew with me (we raced), and he got me addicted. His mother, I’m told, got him addicted with the Hardy Boys.
Dad also introduced me to reading newsmagazines, Time magazine in his office as I remember it. I suppose that is what helped me get started being interested in current events and politics.
I remember a few movies: Karate Kid and Star Wars and also Pirates of Penzance, which we saw on TV. I remember when we got a VCR player, and trying to tape shows while pausing during the commercials. Which brings me to Sledgehammer. “Trust me. I know what I’m doing.” “Sorry Francine, call me a feminist.” “The only concept I hate worse is gun control.” “That’s Mrrrr.” “She has been kidnapped, or is just very good at hiding.” “What you need is a chiropractic adjustment.” This is getting ridiculous, but those are classics lines. Classic TV.
And you can’t talk about Dad and TV without mentioning his ironing shirts while he watched. Or lying down getting his head scratched by Mom. Or eating on the couch.
Dad’s musical tastes are simple. He likes baroque trumpet music. And he conducts while he listens. He loves the hymns of the restoration, and I remember the playing the hymn “An Angel from on High” with him on the trumpet at a ward talent show in Missouri. Dad can also conduct a military band or ward choir or university symphony.
A final note on Dad and the media. His personal history volumes are a great treasure for us – I read enjoy reading them, and so do my children. I am glad to have the stories of his life and our life together preserved for us.
Happy Fathers Day!
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From John:
Happy Father's Day, Dad! Mom suggested that we might all take a moment to write down some of our memories, on the theme of media.
One of my earliest memories is a hazy recollection of seeing The Empire Strikes Back in the theater and asking if Darth Vader was really Luke's father. (Now I wonder if Luke's father was really Darth Vader...) We watched that movie many more times, of course, and you used it to teach us important life lessons. When I am struggling and down in the dumps now, I hear Yoda instructing Luke: "Luminous beings are we-- not this crude matter." I have my own list of movies I will use to trick my kids into learning.
In music, you taught me to seek after beauty, as the 13th Article of Faith teaches us. All my life, I heard stories of you as a missionary spending your diversion day doing two things: worshiping at the temple, and going to the theater to see Robert and Elizabeth. And when I came back from my mission, you had practically worn out my Men's Chorus tapes by listening to them over and over. You taught me by example to find music that uplifts and inspires and gladdens the heart. This has helped me make better choices about the soundtrack I choose for my life. (Also, there was that one time when Jacob Starr and Billy Renfro brought over the latest album by Poison to play "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." As I recall, you endured it with patience and longsuffering.)
Most recently, I thought of us driving the Honda up from Texas this January. Pretty much all the Rush Limbaugh I have heard in my life, I have shared with you on the road. Although a lot of the time, we didn't listen for too long-- something El Rushbo said would get me started, and then we'd turn the volume down a bit and talk. Which is just as well, since Rush is only the second-most astute commentator on American society who came out of Cape Girardeau. (You are correct. I am, of course, thinking of James.)
I have lots of reading memories, too. Like the journal you left out for us to read, so we could learn about you. And the novels we have enjoyed together over the years, from Tom Clancy to (now) Brandon Sanderson. And of course there are the best books, the scriptures. Which reminds me, it's time for me to go to church, so I'm going to wrap this up.
Thank you, Dad, for sharing so many happy moments with me. I look forward to sharing many more with you in years to come.
Love,
JOHN
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From Sam:
Dad and the Media
Well, my immediate association with the word “media” and Dad is Dad’s collection of books on the mass media. I think I tried to do a report on his PhD topic (mass media) using his books when I was in 7th grade. Bit off a bit more than I could chew.
But way before that, Dad helped me really fall in love with books. Dad read Nancy Drew with me (we raced), and he got me addicted. His mother, I’m told, got him addicted with the Hardy Boys.
Dad also introduced me to reading newsmagazines, Time magazine in his office as I remember it. I suppose that is what helped me get started being interested in current events and politics.
I remember a few movies: Karate Kid and Star Wars and also Pirates of Penzance, which we saw on TV. I remember when we got a VCR player, and trying to tape shows while pausing during the commercials. Which brings me to Sledgehammer. “Trust me. I know what I’m doing.” “Sorry Francine, call me a feminist.” “The only concept I hate worse is gun control.” “That’s Mrrrr.” “She has been kidnapped, or is just very good at hiding.” “What you need is a chiropractic adjustment.” This is getting ridiculous, but those are classics lines. Classic TV.
And you can’t talk about Dad and TV without mentioning his ironing shirts while he watched. Or lying down getting his head scratched by Mom. Or eating on the couch.
Dad’s musical tastes are simple. He likes baroque trumpet music. And he conducts while he listens. He loves the hymns of the restoration, and I remember the playing the hymn “An Angel from on High” with him on the trumpet at a ward talent show in Missouri. Dad can also conduct a military band or ward choir or university symphony.
A final note on Dad and the media. His personal history volumes are a great treasure for us – I read enjoy reading them, and so do my children. I am glad to have the stories of his life and our life together preserved for us.
Happy Fathers Day!
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Sunday, July 4, 2010
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